Trigger Warning: This article talks about sensitive topics such as suicide [prevention] and mental health.
Pain.
As a noun, it is defined as, “physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury; a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body; mental or emotional suffering or torment.” Mental illness is not tangible in the way it causes pain: you can’t point it out as you would a cut or scrape, you can’t apply ointment and a band-aid to depression or anxiety, then expect the symptoms to just go away. In fact, mental illness can seriously impair one’s quality of life.
According to the Depression Project, suicide kills 800,000 people each year and is the tenth largest cause of death worldwide. Two of the leading factors that contribute to a suicide attempt are isolation and feeling burdensome to others. It is no wonder that suicide rates have spiked as those struggling with mental illness suffer in the silence of quarantine. Nearly eight months into a global pandemic, there is an overwhelming need for therapeutic outlets as isolation across the U.S. continues to restrict social and physical activity. It is only appropriate to revitalize the topic by providing the warning signs to look for, debunking the stigma, and offering resources to help those suffering.
In late June, a CDC study revealed that 31% of Americans admitted to experiencing anxious feelings and depressive symptoms, while 11% seriously considered suicide. The conclusion of the study, released this August, was that adults reported elevated suicidal ideation and worsening mental health, especially in younger adults, minorities, and essential workers. 40.9% of overall respondents reported at least one symptom of an anxiety disorder or depressive disorder and/or symptoms of trauma- and stressor-related disorder (TSRD) related to the pandemic. Another alarming outcome of the CDC’s research was that the percentage of respondents between the ages of 18-24 reported having serious suicidal ideation in the 30 days before completing the survey — significantly higher than any other age group.
As an important part of overall health and wellbeing, mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also impacts how we handle stress, interact with others, and make choices during crises. Those with pre-existing mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable in a crisis like COVID-19. The simple act of initiating a conversation around mental illness is possibly the most important part of intervention: people suffer in silence simply because social stigma dictates that any discourse around mental illness is attention-seeking.
But truly, people who care about you would rather hear about your struggles than about your death. Mental illness can be crippling and debilitating, worsened more so by the stigma that shrinks those impacted by them from living freely. For those in the fight, you are not alone. You are here, present in this moment, for a purpose. Your daily life may look different than others but it does not make your livelihood any less important — even if that vulnerability is difficult to wear.
Invisible is an adjective that carries various definitions: “not visible or not perceptible by the eye; withdrawn from, out of sight or hidden; not perceptible or discernible by the mind.” The phrase “invisible illness” is not necessarily a medical definition, rather an umbrella term for any medical condition not visible to others that significantly affects one’s quality of life. Mental illnesses fall under that umbrella. The severity of these conditions may ebb and flow without an established pattern or warning, which is why misconceptions around mental illnesses are rampant.
While the pain cannot be seen, the ripple effects of publicly revealing a mental illness are also palpable in how they impact personal relationships, education, and employment. Healthcare poses another issue. As many illnesses are characterized by subjective symptoms that can be associated with so many medical conditions, it is not rare to be misdiagnosed or dismissed by medical providers. However, there are places and people dedicated to treating mental illness and suicide prevention.
The Invisible Disability Project is a nonprofit organization that creates “projects and services dedicated to disrupting the silence around what it means to live with an invisible disability.” It is a singular example of a growing movement to consciously disrupt “‘invisibility’ [and] dismantling shame and stigma.” The Depression Project offers a plethora of educational reading material when approaching mental illness, going into even specific niches like how to cope with election anxiety and how to prevent social media from triggering depressive symptoms. As always, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours and seven days a week where you can chat online, or speak directly with a counselor at 1-800-273-8255.
For those struggling alone, struggling to be visible, you are much more powerful than you think. Trust your power. Celebrate your individuality. Believe, wholeheartedly, that you are meant to be here. Accept yourself as you are. It may go against the image society trained you to fit into the mold of and the culture in which you were raised, but for those who need to hear it, you are good as you are.